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April 10, 2010

Spring Cleaning for the Soul.

West Elm can now officially call me their #1 stylish stalker.

Spring has sprung and with it my urge to redecorate my home. I’ve moved out all vibrant colors and replaced them with soft neutrals, whites and textures. My fauvist style art has been replaced with soothing white landscapes and flowing pale curtains. My orange bed is now covered in cream ruffles and rosettes that makes me feel like I’m sleeping at the core of a cupcake.

I feel as fabulous as cream filling.

It’s an aesthetic shift for sure but I feel it coming directly from my soul. I have been seeking a more soothing energy instead of a powerful fruity pop. I don’t have to scream, “Hey, I’m alive! Hear my patterned pillows roar!” I feel comfortable in my own skin and don’t need anything flashy to pull attention towards me.

The ability to soften my home immediately calms my energy. I’m in a lovely place in my life.
Content yet inspired. Single yet bursting with love. Over my apartment yet thrilled to fill it with goodness.

I have all of the energy coming from within me. Once you’ve tapped into your own innate energy and power it’s a huge force to be reckoned with. That being said I’d like to share a few tips for mind, body and soul to get your spring cleaning kicked up into fifth gear.

SMELL: Agua de Florida

I would like to live in a bottle of Agua de Florida (Florida water). This floral genius comes straight from Peru and is traditionally used by shamans and healers to clear energies, cleanse objects and deflect negative spirits. I even had the experience to see a healer sprinkle this water on a person dealing with demons. Fortunately, the healer had the foresight to know this person wouldn’t be pleased. They sprinkled the water, ducked out of range as a Muhammad Ali worthy swipe came flying his way.

This water is some seriously powerful stuff.

I use it to clean my house to keep the energy clear. It’s wonderful sprinkled in a bath to clear the chakras and dabbed directly on the skin before I know I have to deal with a large group of people with tons of different energies flying at me. The added bonus: this stuff smells like heaven.

TASTE: Baked Fruit Frittata

My lovely friend, Lauren Hass aka The Well Dressed Chef has always shown up at my door step during my times of need—normally with her knife set and a spatula (my equivalent to a knight in shinning armor). I was needing a revival and off she went into my kitchen to create her Baked Fruit Frittata. Eggs and fruit? My eyebrow lifted but I knew she could do no wrong. A few cracked eggs, flicks of her spatula and pinch of her magic fairy-dairy dust and voila! An amazing spin on breakfast for dinner. I devoured the dish and couldn’t wait to share it. So here it is:

2 egg yolks
egg whites of 4 eggs
frozen or fresh fruit (blueberries, raspberries, cherries, etc)
your favorite bread (we used spelt) torn to small pieces
agave or maple syrup
pinch of salt
cinnamon to flavor

Mix your fruit with a dollop of agave or maple syrup. Sprinkle the fruit with cinnamon and stir. Whip your egg yolks and whites separately and pour over fruit. Mix in torn bread pieces. Pour entire mixture into a lightly oiled frying pan and place into the oven at 350degrees for about 45 mins. Cut into slices and garnish with cinnamon and fresh strawberries. Feel free to add another dollop of syrup! So easy, unique and delicious!

DO: Yoga. Obviously.

There’s nothing more rewarding then a full 90 minute sweaty vinyasa class. It’s one of the most detoxifying and cleansing activities you can do for your body.  Lately, my energy has been shifting (into the core of a cupcake, evidently) and I have been craving more calming energy. I’m coming to realize that there is just as much power in seated meditation as in an intense arm balance. Knowing exactly where you are and accepting that place is brilliant. Some days you feel like a rockstar and are ready to take on the world and others you just feel like a rock. I wrote this twenty minute yoga sequence for Yoga Journal to meld the best of both worlds—gentle flow. Enough movement to keep the upbeat energy going, yet smooth and velvety to soothe the mind. Balanced. Yogic. Cleansing.

FEEL: Pampered Tootsies

Being a yogi, I’m quite accustomed to spreading my toes.  I spend my life barefoot and have a meticulous best friend who ridicules me to toe hell if one nail is longer than the other.  I’ve even done a yoga campaign all about socks—and not much else.  This company, ToeSox, put out a few ‘toe tips’ on how to pamper your little piggies 1-5.  Check out these great ‘foot notes’ on rejuvination and relaxation.

Soak feet. . .in warm water mixed with seat salt to relax the feet and reduce swelling or stiffness.

Scrub feet. . .combine 3T of sugar, 3 crushed lemons, 1T sweet almond oil (or any oil that you like the smell of), 10-15 diced min leaves and 1/4c. baking soda.  Use this natural scrub on freshly soaked feet to smooth dry, cracked feet.

Moisturize feet. . .by mixing several drops of peppermint essential oil with your favorite oil  Massage your soles.

BE. That’s it.  Take a deep breath and just be.  You’re exactly where you should be and  you’re perfect.

Enjoy and Happy Spring:)

Kathryn is a lover and teacher of yoga by day, a wizard in the kitchen by dinner time and a professional dog snuggler at night.

Follow Kathryn @kathrynbudig or on Facebook

www.kathrynbudig.com

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